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Keith Boyd’s Epic Cape Town to Cairo Run

A Record-Breaking Journey of Endurance, Empowerment, and Hope Welcome again, fellow runners and fitness enthusiasts. The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 marked more than just the end of the Cold War for a young 23-year-old South African. For Keith Boyd, it signaled the dawn of possibility, a time when Nelson Mandela walked free, the ANC was unbanned, and a Rainbow Nation seemed within reach. But as the years unfolded, personal tragedy and national setbacks would forge a different kind of runner, one driven not just by pace and distance, but by purpose and hope. When Personal Tragedy Meets National Purpose The early 1990s tested Boyd's optimism severely. Political violence threatened South Africa's transition to democracy, Chris Hani's assassination brought the country to civil war's brink, and personal devastation struck when his sister was raped and murdered in Cape Town while his brother-in-law was shot during peacekeeping efforts in KwaZulu-Natal. Yet through it all...

Comrades 2027 Entries Open Tomorrow (25 Aug 2026)

   Here's What Actually Matters Welcome, fellow runners and fitness enthusiasts. Tomorrow at 10am, entries open for the 100th Comrades Marathon. If you've been avoiding the fine print because the ASA vs CMA fight made the whole thing feel shaky, stop putting it off. The race is happening. Entries are opening on schedule. The governance mess is a separate headache for a separate day - don't let it cost you a spot in the centenary edition. Here's the bit people keep getting wrong: entering does not let you skip qualifying. You still need a sub-5-hour marathon run somewhere between 15 June 2026 and 3 May 2027. I've had club mates assume a Green Number or an early window means the qualifying time doesn't apply to them. It does. Every single time, no exceptions. The Windows Green Number and Yellow Number athletes, plus Amabeadibeadi charity entries, get first crack tomorrow - 10am to 4:30pm on 31 August, or sooner if the cap fills before then. CMA members get...

The Economics of Running

An Analysis of Reward Structures & Ticket Pricing Dynamics Hey running enthusiasts! Running has evolved from a simple form of exercise into a multi-billion rand industry that captivates millions of South Africans annually. The economic landscape surrounding this sport reveals fascinating dynamics between reward structures, entry fees, and the broader financial ecosystem that sustains one of the country's most popular recreational activities. The Foundation of South African Running Economics South Africa's running economy operates on multiple interconnected levels, from grassroots community events to internationally recognised marathons that attract participants from across the globe. The Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town and the Comrades Marathon between Durban and Pietermaritzburg stand as pillars of this economic structure, each generating substantial revenue streams that ripple through local economies. The Comrades Marathon Association reported that the 2024 event contr...